Arizona State University
Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program 
in Curriculum & Instruction

 

Language and Literacy

The Interdisciplinary Language and Literacy Ph.D. Program in the Division of Curriculum and Instruction of the College of Education at Arizona State University provides opportunities for research and study in one or more of the following: language and literacy education, children's literature, classroom discourse analysis, gender and literacy, emergent literacy, adolescent literacy, biliteracy, second language learning, language policy, and other language education topics.

Concentration Goals

The Language and Literacy Ph.D. concentration is designed to produce researchers and teacher educators. The goals of the program are to prepare students to critically analyze and conduct research in their area of specialization; and to prepare students to carry out research, teaching, and service activities associated with faculty positions at institutions of higher education and other professional positions.

Some students opt to specialize in research, others pursue careers in teaching or administration, but all are prepared to make individual career decisions based on examined theory in language and literacy and a critical view of research.

The Curriculum

Our doctoral curriculum typically requires at least three years of graduate study. Students are required to spend one year as full-time students on campus at Arizona State University. However, all students are encouraged to integrate into the scholarly community on campus as much as possible, and to spend a good amount of time interacting with faculty and other students in the program.

The curriculum provides students with a core set of courses, seminars, internships, and research experiences. Each student's program of study builds upon core requirements and is uniquely designed around individual interests, in consultation with the student's advisor.

An important feature of the program in Language and Literacy is that students are encouraged to draw on the scholarly resources of the entire university and develop a cross-disciplinary program of study that includes courses from outside the College of Education.

Requirements

The following six domains comprise the Interdisciplinary Language and Literacy Ph.D. Program:

  • Area of Concentration

    30 semester hours pertaining to language and literacy education, children's literature, gender and literacy, emergent literacy, adolescent literature, classroom discourse analysis, educational linguistics, bilingualism and bilingual education, second language learning, language policy, biliteracy, or other language education topics.

  • Cognate Study

    12 semester hours are taken to broaden the student's understanding of the conceptual base and issues underlying the study of curriculum and instruction. Students take related work outside their declared areas of concentration. Students are expected to choose courses that have a clear link to their dissertation efforts. Cognate studies can be drawn from a broad range of offerings across the University.

  • Inquiry and Analysis

    15 semester hours of empirical analysis and inquiry foundations are required in advanced design and data analysis in quantitative and/or qualitative research methods.

  • Core Requirements in Curriculum and Instruction

    6 semester hours of courses (Interdisciplinary Research Seminar in Curriculum and Instruction and Curriculum Theory and Practice) are required as the Curriculum and Instruction core.

  • Practicum and Integrative/Professional Development Seminars

    6 semester hours of research and University teaching internships are required to broaden the training and experience of students.

  • Dissertation and Independent Research

    24 semester units of dissertation and independent research leading to completion of an approved dissertation are required.

    Doctoral students are also encouraged to participate in the Preparing Future Faculty Program offered by ASU's Graduate College. This program consists of two semester hours in which students learn faculty roles and responsibilities and participate in an ongoing series of integrative and collaborative seminars coordinated with the Graduate College. Students have the opportunity to develop and participate in interdisciplinary teaching, research, and service activities.

  • Funding and Application Deadline

    A limited number of full and partial funding packages will be available on a competitive basis. The application deadline is revolving; admissions decisions are made about once a month. Students who wish to pursue academic support are encouraged to apply early. Applicants and prospective applicants are encouraged to contact program area faculty with whom they share common academic interests.

    Faculty Mentors

    Dr. Beatriz Arias (Ph.D., Stanford University): Language policy, bilingual teacher preparation, secondary bilingual education. bea@asu.edu

    Dr. James Christie (Ph.D., Claremont Graduate School): Emergent literacy. jchristie@asu.edu

    Dr. Carole Edelsky (Ph.D., University of New Mexico): Language education and classroom discourse, language and gender. edelsky@asu.edu

    Dr. Christian Faltis (Ph.D., Stanford University): Bilingualism, second language acquisition, secondary bilingual education. cfaltis@asu.edu

    Dr. Barbara Guzzetti (Ph.D., University of Colorado): Gender and literacy, adolescent literacy. guzzetti@asu.edu

    Dr. Jeff MacSwan (Ph.D., UCLA): Bilingualism, code switching, educational linguistics, language assessment policy for linguistic minorities. macswan@asu.edu

    Dr. Alleen P. Nilson (Ph.D., University of Iowa): Adolescent literature, language issues. alleen.nilsen@asu.edu

    Dr. Josephine Peyton Young (Ph.D., University of Georgia): Adolescent literacy, critical literacy, and gender and literacy. joyoung@asu.edu

    Associated Faculty

    Dr. Carol Christine (Ph.D., University of Arizona): Language and literacy education, childrenšs literature. caroljc@asu.edu

    Dr. Billie Enz (Ph.D., Arizona State University): Emergent literacy, language acquisition. bjenz@asu.edu

    Dr. Gustavo Fischman (Ph.D., UCLA): Cultural studies, international and comparative education. fischman@asu.edu

    Dr. Jeff McQuillan (Ph.D., University of Southern California): Language and literacy education, second language learning. jeff.mcquillan@asu.edu

    Dr. Kellie Rolstad (Ph.D., UCLA): Dual language education, language diversity, educational linguistics, elementary language arts. rolstad@asu.edu

    Dr. Karen Smith (Ph.D., Arizona State University): Language and literacy education, language policy. karen.smith2@asu.edu

    Dr. Lucy Tse (Ph.D., University of Southern California): Second language learning, bilingualism, and biliteracy. lucy.tse@asu.edu

    Dr. Terrence G. Wiley (Ph.D., University of Southern California): Language policy, second language acquisition, bilingualism, literacy, language diversity. tgwiley@earthlink.net

    To request an application, or for further admissions information, contact the Curriculum and Instruction Graduate Programs Office: 

     

    Curriculum & Instruction Graduate Programs

    Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Degree Program

    Arizona State University

    Box 871911

    Tempe, AZ  85287-1911

    Phone:  480-965-4602

    Fax:  480-965-1863

    cnigrad@asu.edu

    Other ASU Links of Interest

    College of Education
    Graduate College
    Committee on Linguistics
    Student Life